RoyFan

QUOTE (Ancient Ways @ Feb 12 2012, 08:35 PM) QUOTE (RoyFan @ Feb 12 2012, 03:34 PM) Alex recalled once that Geddy came up with the Closer To The Heart guitar intro. I need to read this since I find it hard to believe. Hey - here is a link to another mention of Geddy coming up with the Closer To The Heart intro.. In case you're wondering - I read Alex say it himself so I know it's true - It was a guitar player magazine interview I THINK - they sometimes put certain interviews online and then take them off.. I'll look for it http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1750

I used to think that - but take the beginning of Limelight - to most people it sounds like an Alex creation. But he explained that they took that part from the section when him and Geddy are riffing before the vocals. Look I'm sure that in terms of riffs he contributed more than just the Freewill and Spirit of Radio riffs. But I'd love to know for sure. Also, it's important to differentiate between an arpeggio and a riff. He did lots of beautiful arpeggios (like the Limelight chorus) on changes that were probably written by Geddy

While Rush will always be a team effort, from what I've read, I think Geddy writes a lot of the "skeletons" of the songs musically. The basic chord progressions and melodies. Even a lot of the riffs. Alex recalled once that Geddy came up with the Closer To The Heart guitar intro. In a 1984 Keyboard Magazine interview - Geddy recalled composing Trees and Subdivisions entirely on keyboard as well as the intro to the song "A Farewell To Kings" - which Alex obviously created his own guitar arrangement for. On the other hand, I once heard a bootleg of a soundcheck circa Hemispheres Tour, and Alex is playing the intro riff to "Freewill"! So I would think that was his riff, and an important one at that. If anyone has good info on riffs/chord progressions etc that were definitely Alex's I'd love to know myself.